What you need to know about (the tricky world of) travel health insurance
1
If you’re over 60, you will probably have to fill out a medical questionnaire when applying for travel health insurance. If you are unsure about how to answer a question, consult your doctor and ask to see your medical records. This will help you to understand the conditions you have so you can answer the questions accurately.
2
There are certain questions on the questionnaire that ask how many medications you are taking, which can cause some confusion. Your pharmacist can provide you with a list of all the medications currently in your name. For example, if you have a standing prescription at the pharmacist for a medication, the insurance company could understand that to mean that you are taking it even though you’re not currently filing that prescription.
3
If there is a question about high blood pressure on the questionnaire, and you are taking medication for it as a preventative measure, the insurance company could take the position that you’ve been diagnosed with that condition and are being treated for it.
4
Don’t simply answer the questionnaire based on what you think is relevant. Even the smallest treatment or diagnosis, when not answered correctly, can make your insurance null and void. It’s better to over-report than under-report because you may have to pay a higher premium but then you can be assured that you have the coverage in the case of an emergency.
5
Make sure you understand the definitions of all the terms on the questionnaire. For example, according to some insurance companies, being tested for a condition means you’ve been treated for it.
6
Read your travel insurance policy carefully to understand all the terms and conditions. Pay particular attention to the ‘Limitations and Exclusions’ section to understand what’s covered and what’s not. For example, some policies will not cover you if your medical emergency is related to excessive alcohol and/or extreme sports.
7
If you experience a medical emergency while on your trip, contact your insurance provider right away. If you fail to get prior approval for any tests or procedures, your claim may not be fully covered.
8
If there is anything in your policy you don't understand, call your insurer and ask for clarification.
9
If your claim is denied, appeal to the insurance company. If that doesn’t work, consider contacting the Ombud Service for Life and Health Insurance (OLHI). According to its website, OLHI is “…an independent service to help consumers with complaints that they are not able to resolve by dealing directly with their insurance company.”
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.
Canada has the highest rate of hospital acquired infections in the developed world, and Canada's consumer watchdog wants to know why. Erica Johnson puts hospital cleanliness to the test, and finds a mess that is making you sick.
Going on vacation? Think travel health insurance is going to protect you if something goes wrong? Erica Johnson investigates.
In this special one-hour edition of 'Marketplace,' Tom Harrington tests the skills and ethics of home repair services.
Why are prescription eyeglasses so darned expensive? In an eye-opening report, Tom Harrington focuses in on the outrageously high price of spectacles.
Tom Harrington and the 'Marketplace' team go undercover, targeting the dubious promises of a job search agency.
Tom Harrington reveals the story of how, for many unwilling clients, Canada's largest lawn care company has become a more invasive pest than the ones they promise to get rid of.
Are all airline travel credits created equal? Erica Johnson investigates the credit policies of the top three Canadian airlines.
In this year's Top 10 countdown of Lousy Labels, Erica Johnson finds the truth behind the latest buzzwords on food packaging. It will make you think twice before filling up your shopping cart.
Are forest eco-labels worth the (toilet) paper they're printed on? Tom Harrington investigates.
'Marketplace' blows the roof off of one of Canada's worst landlords. Tom Harrington exposes renter horror stories, and asks: How can the company get away with this?
It's Canada's top-selling cold remedy, but does COLD-FX really do what the company claims? Erica Johnson puts it to the test. Also, what does Don Cherry have to say?
'Marketplace' launches our 39th season with a special one-hour episode that takes on Canada's major store chains.
'Marketplace' showcases its new season, and updates a story we first reported last year on the potential risk of popular birth control pills.
